Americans are demanding answers on the Trump rally tragedy. But the answers are sickening.
As the Secret Service just secretly confessed the truth about the Trump shooting in a Congressional debriefing.
Federal Agencies Face Scrutiny Over Trump’s Assassination Attempt at Pennsylvania Rally
The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and the FBI informed lawmakers on Wednesday that they had identified the individual who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump well before the incident occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. According to sources familiar with the briefing, the federal agencies recognized the threat posed by Thomas Crooks approximately one hour before he opened fire.
The briefing aimed to provide lawmakers with detailed information about the near-fatal shooting that took place on Saturday. USSS and FBI officials revealed that Crooks was identified about 50 minutes before Trump took the stage to address the crowd. This detail was confirmed by two sources who attended the briefing.
“There was zero accountability from Secret Service,” a source told the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF). “They identified the shooter 60 minutes prior to the assassination attempt.” Despite the early identification, Crooks managed to fire shots about 10 minutes into Trump’s speech, indicating a significant lapse in security protocols.
One source confirmed that Crooks was spotted with a range finder, further highlighting the missed opportunity to prevent the shooting. Both sources expressed disappointment over the handling of the situation, emphasizing the gravity of the subject.
During the briefing, several lawmakers were frustrated by the lack of opportunity to ask questions. “They did not have answers to basic questions,” a source told the DCNF regarding the performance of the USSS and FBI.
ABC News reported that Crooks was seen on the roof from which he eventually fired, about 20 minutes before the shooting began. This critical observation has raised serious concerns among Republicans, who have sharply criticized the USSS for what they perceive as one of the worst failures in the agency’s history.
USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle has faced intense criticism for her response. She stated to ABC News that security personnel were not present on the roof from which Crooks fired because it was sloped, a justification that has been met with skepticism and disapproval.
It is being revealed by the Secret Service during the Senate hearing that they were aware of the shooter for ten minutes before former President Trump walked onto the stage, per Fox
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) July 17, 2024
Several lawmakers publicly criticized the USSS after the briefing. Republican Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn expressed her lack of confidence in Director Cheatle’s leadership. “I just got off a briefing with the Secret Service and FBI. I am appalled to learn that the Secret Service knew about a threat prior to President Trump walking on stage,” Blackburn wrote on social media. “I have no confidence in the leadership of Director Cheatle and believe it is in the best interest of our nation if she steps down from her position.”
Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee echoed this sentiment, calling for Cheatle’s immediate resignation. “Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle needs to step down immediately. Today’s (mostly) information-free briefing only confirmed that,” Lee wrote. “What little information she gave us was at once deeply troubling and glaringly incomplete.”
Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming also voiced his dissatisfaction. “This was a 100% cover-your-a** briefing. He was identified as being suspicious one hour before the shooting. He had a range finder and a backpack. The Secret Service lost sight of him,” Barrasso stated. “No one has taken responsibility. No one has been held responsible. Someone has died. The President was almost k*lled. The head of the Secret Service needs to go.”
The incident has sparked a significant debate about the effectiveness and accountability of federal law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting the nation’s leaders. The scrutiny of USSS and FBI actions leading up to the assassination attempt on Trump is expected to continue as lawmakers demand answers and accountability.
Calls for Accountability and Full Event Timeline & Reporting
There are calls growing louder for an official write-up on the facts of the timeline of the tragedy of that day, considering the American people are still left in limbo on so many important details.
It’s not clear as to why it has been said from the Secret Service that the securing of the roof from which the shooter posted up was “unsafe” due to sloping, considering that the sniper who ended up taking out the shooter was on a sloped roof.
There needs to be a clear answer for why the roof from which the shooter posted up wasn’t at least secured with multiple men preventing anyone from accessing the roof in the first place. The American people also need to know why a water tower nearby was left insecure as well. These are all the basics of securing a VIP at an outdoors event. The answers thus far have been insufficient.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
